Heat treatment apparatus



Oct. 30, 1956 J. A. REDMOND 2,768,635

HEAT TREATMENT APPARATUS Filed July 20, 1953 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 F i g. 3 4/ WITNESSES: INVENTOR 9% z 1 JBCLhn A. Redniuond.

United States Patent HEAT TREATIVIENT APPARATUS John A. Redmond, Baltimore, Md., assignor to Westinghouse Electric Corporation, East Pittsburgh, Pa., a corporation of Pennsylvania Application July 20, 1953, Serial No. 368,931

3 Claims. (Cl. 134i-122) The present invention relates to apparatus for effecting a desired heat treatment of metallic workpieces and more particularly to apparatus for effecting a quench hardening treatment of such workpieces.

It is an object of my invention to provide an improved heat treatment apparatus for quench hardenable metallic workpieces.

It is another object of my invention to provide an improved heat treatment apparatus which is simplified for the purpose of manufacture and gives an improved workpiece heat treatment pattern and operation.

It is still another object of my invention to provide an improved quench member which is operative to effect an improved quench heat treatment of heated workpieces.

It is a different object of my invention to provide an improved quench member which projects a quenching medium or fluid such as water toward a heated workpiece such that a wiping or washing of the workpiece surface is thereby effected.

A still different object of my invention is to provide an improved quench member which projects a quenching medium or fluid onto the heated surface of the workpiece such that the escape or removal of quenching medium that has been expended by the actual quenching of the heated surface of the workpiece is thereby facilitated.

It is a further object of my invention to provide a quenching member which is operative to project a flow of quenching medium onto the heated surface of a workpiece such that a minimum build up of an expended or spent quenching medium thereby results.

It is a still further object of my invention to provide a quench member which can be adjusted to provide a predeterminable and variable quench medium projection angle or direction-relative to the heated surface of the workpiece to be quenched.

It is an additional object of my invention to provide a quench member that is operable in either a horizontal or a vertical position or any position therebetween and is adjustable to project quench medium at any desired and predeterminable angle relative to the axis of the workpiece to be heat treated or relative to the heated surface of such a workpiece.

The novel features that are considered characteristic of this invention are set forth with particularity in the claims. The invention itself both as to its organization and method of operation together with additional objects and advantages thereof will best be understood from the following description of specific embodiments when read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in which:

Figure 1 is an end View of a workpiece showing the annular shape quench positioned to surround said workpiece;

Fig. 2 is a vertical sectional view of the heat treatment apparatus in accordance with this invention;

Fig. 3 is a partial vertical section view of a modified form of the heat treatment apparatus in accordance with this invention; and

Figs. 4, 5 and 6 show a preferred modified form of the invention. Fig. 4 is a side view, Fig. 5 is an end view and Fig. 6 is a partial side sectional view of this preferred modified form.

In Fig. 1 there is shown an annular shaped quench member 2 positioned to surround a workpiece 4 for the purpose of projecting a quenching fluid or medium such as water or the like as may be desired onto the heated surface of the workpiece 4. The workpiece 4 as illustrated comprises a cylindrical shaped member made of quench hardenable metal having an axis which is perpendicular to the plane of the drawing as shown in Fig. 1. The annular shaped quench member 2 is illustrated as having an axis and is coaxially positioned relative to the workpiece 4 such that the quench member 2 is in the plane of the drawing as shown in Fig. l and which plane is perpendicular to the axis of the workpiece 4. The quench member 2 includes an inner annular surface 3 and an outer annular surface 5 which inner and outer surfaces 3 and 5 can be made if desired parallel to the Xis of the workpiece 4. A plurality of slot openings 6 are provided in particularly the inner surface of the quench member 2 for the purpose of projecting a quenching fluid or medium in respectively sheet like or planar projections toward the heat treated surface of the workpiece 4.

It should be understood that the slot-like openings 6 can be positioned in either the inner surface 3 of the quench member 2 when the workpiece 4 has an outer surface to be heat treated or the slot-shaped openings can be provided in the outer surface 5 of the quench member 2 when it is desired to quench treat the inner surface of a tubular or the like shaped workpiece.

Referring to Fig. 2 the annular shaped quench member is illustrated as comprising an annular shaped channel section 8 and a top section 10 which is operative with said annular shaped channel section 8 to form a closed quench member 2 with the only outlets for the quench medium or fluid 7 being the slot or rectangularly shaped openings 6. In Fig. 2 there is more clearly illustrated the inner surface 3 and the outer surface 5 of the quench medium 2 which are shown as parts of the channel section 8. It will be noted from the showing of Fig. 2 that the slot sections 6 comprise cutout portions in the inner surface 3 of the channel section 8 with each of the slot openings 6 having a pair of parallel longitudinal sides 9 and a pair of traverse sides with the upper traverse side ll. being formed by the top section 10 and with the lower traverse side 13 and the longitudinal sides 9 comprising cutout or removed portions from the channel section 8 as illustrated.

It will be noted further from Fig, 2 that the lower traverse side 13 and the upper traverse side 11 are cut from respectively the top section 10 and the channel section 8 at an angle relative to the plane of the quench member 2 and in a radial direction relative to the surface of the workpiece 4. This formation of the upper traverse side 11 and the lower traverse side 13 is operative to project the quench medium or fluid toward the surface of the workpiece 4 in a direction which is away from the plane of the quench member 2 at a predetermined angle relative to the plane of the quench member 2 and relative to the axis of the workpiece 4. This predetermined angle can be readily varied by varying the formation of the upper traverse side 11 and the lower traverse side 13 relative to the plane of the quench member 2.

Also shown in Fig. 2 is the inductor member 14, with the quench projection angle being away from the relative 3 direction of the inductor member 14 and in the direction of workpiece scansion movement,

In Fig. 3 there is illustrated a modified form of the invention which modification is particularly in the formation of the top section 13. From Fig. 3, it will be noted that the top section is preshaped to further control the projection angle of the quenching medium or fluid relative to the plane of the quench member 2. The top section it) is illustrated in Fig. 3 as comprising a curved member which curved shape of the top section is operative to project the quench fluid or medium toward the surface of the workpiece 4- in a direction away from the plane of the quench member 2.

If a scansion movement of the quench member 2 relative to the surface of the workpiece 4 is desired, it is preferable for many applications that the quenching fiuid be projected from the quench member 2 toward the surface of the workpiece at an angle away from the plane of the quench member 2 which angle is preferably in the direction of the scansion movement.

Referring specifically to Fig. 2, if it is desired that the workpiece 4 be scanned in movement relative to the quench member 2 and such scansion movement is in a downward direction as illustrated by the arrow in Fig. 2, quench iluid projection slot openings may be formed in the quench member 2 such that the quench medium or fluid is projected away from the plane of the quench member 2 and in a direction toward the direction of such scansion movement. Hence the quench angle is seen to be in the direction of workpiece movement.

It is also in accordance with my invention to vary the position of the top section 10 relative to the channel section 8 as well as to vary the shape of the slot openings 6 by changing the shape of either the top section it or the channel section 3 or by varying their relative positions for the purpose of varying the projection angle of the quench fluid relative to the plane of the quench member 2 and the axis or surface to be quenched of the workpiece 4.

Further if it is desired to effect a scansion movement between the quench member 2 and the workpiece d for the purpose of scansion heat treatment of the workpiece 4 with the slot openings positioned as shown in Figs. 2 and 3, with the longitudinal sides 9 of the slot openings 6 substantially parallel to the direction of such scansion movement and the workpiece axis, it may be desirable to rotate the workpiece to thereby effect a more uniform quench treatment of the heated surface of the workpiece 4. When the workpiece 4 is so rotated, the slot openings 6 project a plurality of quench fluid projections which projection is of a cross-sectional area which is rectangular in shape corresponding to the rectangular shape of the slot openings 6 such that a wiping or washing action of the surface of the workpiece 4 results. Another advantage of the'rectangular shaped quench fluid projections is that a space is provided between adjacent quench fluid projections which space allows the escape or removal of expended quench fluid. This latter feature of the applicants invention is important in that particularly when the quench member 2 is being scanned relative to the surface of the workpiece 4, the spaces between the quench fluid projections allow the expended quench fluid to escape without an objectionable build up of quench fluid between the quench member 2 and the surface of the workpiece,

The slot openings 6 in accordance with this invention can be formed in the channel section 8, and if desired in top section 10, by means of a milling machine or like mass production apparatus and the provision of the top section ii in conjunction with the channel section 3 allows the formation of these slot openings at less expense than would be encountered by the formation of quench fluid openings in a differently constructed quench memher 2, for example a one piece quench member having drilled or like formed quench holes, which holes are drilled on the inner surface of the quench member.

In accordance with this invention the quench member 2 is readily operative in either a horizontal or a vertical position or at any angle therebetween for the quench treatment of the heated surface of any workpiece. It is further in accordance with this invention that the quench fluid can be projected from the quench member 2 at any angle relative to the plane of the quench member 2 between at which the quench fluid projection would be substantially parallel with the heat treated surface of the workpiece, and 0 at which the projection would be substantially perpendicular to the latter surface. If necessary, the top section 10 can be extended beyond the inner surface 3 of the channel section 8 for the purpose of increasing the projection angle of the quench fluid as desired.

in Figs. 4, 5, and 6 there is shown a quench member 12 which is adapted to substantially surround and contain an inductor member 14. The quench member 12 comprises three parts 16, 18 and 20 which are held together in their relative positions by means of fastener members or bolts 22. These fastener members 22 have hollow interiors as best shown in Fig. 6, such that quench fluid or medium may be introduced thereto at one end of the fastener members 22 from quench medium supply members 24, which latter supply members 24- are supported by provided support members 26. The respective fastener members have a plurality of openings 23 at their other end, which Openings project the quench fluid onto a provided baflie 39 of quench member part 18. The quench fluid then passes to and through the slot outlets or openings, one such opening 32 being shown in Fig. 6.

As best shown in Fig. 6 quench member part 16 forms a holder for inductor member 14. Quench member parts 18 and 20 cooperate similarly to the channel and top sections 8 and 10 previously described. If desired, a quench control member 34, in the form of a washer or like member, may be provided to direct the quench fluid in a slanted direction relative to the plane of the quench member 12 and relative to the workpiece surface to be quench treated. With the latter washer 34, the quench member part 20 may be formed as illustrated in Fig. 6 to have a corresponding quench fluid control surface, and to thereby form the desired quench nozzle or slot opening. However, the quench member part 18 may be shaped to include a similar quench control surface as is shown in Fig. 6 to be provided by the quench control member 34. It should be apparent that a variance of the quench fluid slant direction of projection may be readily effected by so changing the control surfaces of control member 34 and quench member part 20.

It should be readily apparent that other apparatus and methods of applying the principles of this invention may be employed instead of those explained and described. For example, the slot openings need not be positioned all or completely around the inner or outer surfaces of the quench member 2, but instead may be grouped or positioned as desired. Further, various changes and modifications may be made in regards to the apparatus and operative steps herein disclosed. Also, the shape of the slot openings may be oval, triangular as well as rectangular, or may be irregularly shaped as may be desired for the particular quenching operation to be performed.

I claim as my invention:

1. In heat treatment apparatus for applying a quench medium to a heated workpiece having an axis, an annular quench member having an axis and being coaxially positioned relative to said workpiece with said quench member havin a plurality of slot openings for directing the quench medium toward said workpiece, said quench member comprising an annular shaped channel section having an inner surface and an outer surface which inner and outer surfaces are substantially parallel to the workpiece axis and with the slot openings comprising cutout portions in said inner surface, an annular shaped end section which end section is operative with said channel section to form a closed quench member having not outlets for quench medium other than said slot openings, with the quench member being positioned in a plane perpendicular to the workpiece axis and with said end section being preshaped to result in a quench medium projection path which is directed at a predetermined angle away from the plane of the quench member, and a fastener member operative to fasten said end section to said channel section, said fastener member being internally hollow and adapted to supply quench medium to said quench member.

2. In heat treatment apparatus for applying a quench medium from a quench supply to a heated surface of a workpiece having an axis, an annular shaped quench member adapted to surround said workpiece with said quench member having a plurality of slot openings for projecting the quench medium toward the heated surface of said workpiece, with said quench member including an annular shaped channel section having an inner surface and an outer surface which inner and outer surfaces are substantially parallel to the workpiece axis and with the slot openings comprising cutout portions in said inner surface, said quench member being in a plane substantially perpendicular to the axis of said workpiece and including an end section which end section is operative with said channel section to form a closed quench member having no quench medium outlets other than said slot openings and with said end section having a predetermined shape to result in a quench medium projection path which is directed toward said workpiece at a predetermined angle away from the plane of the quench member, and fastener means connected between said end section and said annular channel section, said fastener means being internally hollow and adapted for connection to said quench supply for supplying quench medium to said quench member.

3. In heat treatment apparatus for applying a quench fluid to a heated workpiece having an axis, a quench member adapted to surround said workpiece with said quench member comprising an annular shaped channel section and an end section, said channel section and said end section being cooperative such that slot openings are provided therebetween for the projection of the quench fluid onto said workpiece, which end section is adjustable in position relative to said channel section to thereby vary the projection angle of the quench fluid relative to the workpiece axis, and internally hollow fastener means hollow in shape and connected between said annular channel section and said end section, with the hollow interior of said fastener means being connected to said quench member and operative to suppy quench fluid to said quench member.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 643,278 Sponsel Feb. 13, 1900 1,521,390 Reynolds Dec. 30, 1924 1,982,518 Howard Nov. 27, 1934 2,449,089 Somes Sept. 14, 1948 2,623,531 Waddington et a1. Dec. 30, 1952 

